More wheat quota for APL holders

This wheat will be available at Rs 9 per kg,against the market rate starting from Rs 12 to Rs 15 per kg. The new system is expected to come into effect from June onwards.

The move comes after it was found that the APL ration cards have primarily been reduced to just “identity cards” in urban areas while card holders in rural areas complained that the wheat quota was too less for them and they had to buy additional foodgrain from the open market. This step will also help the Central government clear its extra stocks in time.

An official of the department said: “In the surveys conducted over the last two years,it was found that in urban areas,the APL cards were mainly being used either as identity cards or for taking sugar. But most of the card holders did not take foodgrain on their cards.”

The state has over 2.5 lakh APL card holders in rural and urban areas. Apart from increasing the quota,the state government will also increase the price of the wheat from Rs 6.60 per kg to Rs 9 per kg.

“The additional quota is coming from the Central government as an adhoc measure,as they are over stocked and this increased quota will help them clear stocks at the earliest,” said Commissioner of Food and Civil Supplies Rajeev Agarwal.  

“This practice may continue as it will help in timely clearance of the stocks and will also see APL card holders buying wheat from PDS shops instead of open market,which in turn will help reduce the chances of black marketing,” he said.

Other than the increased quota,the department has also asked the Regional Food Controllers to ensure that the PDS shops are open at least two to three days in a week and the card holders do not face any problems in obtaining foodgrain.

Regional Food Controller of Lucknow Sangmitra Shankar said: “In urban areas,APL card holders prefer to stay away from the PDS shops as they have to stand in long queues and the shop owners primarily open the shops only for a day every week. But now,we have asked the PDS shops to remain open for a longer period. This will certainly reduce the rush.”

The department,meanwhile,has also started procuring wheat directly from the farmers in the villages.

Agarwal said: “Till date,the farmer would get a price of Rs 1,100 per quintal in the mandi for wheat. But in order to help the farmers and also to ensure that they get the best rate at their doorstep,our department officials have now started camping in the villages.”

“By this method,the farmers do not have to travel all the way to the mandi and can now sell their produce in the village itself,thereby,saving on transportation costs,” added Agarwal.